Riz Ahmed promotes Sufi side of Islam in latest Instagram post

As promised, the actor has been posting photos and videos of his time in Pakistan

After spending a few days in Lahore for the Literary Festival last month, Riz Ahmed made his way to the metropolitan city of Karachi. And as we reported earlier, the British-Pakistani actor has been posting photos and videos of his time in Pakistan, which he visited after 13 years.

His latest post on Instagram shows a side of Pakistan not many know of. The 35-year-old Emmy-winning has been shedding light on the Sufi community, highlighting its culture and practices.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgD3za3hJ8T/?taken-by=rizahmed

Posting multiple videos and a picture of his visit to a Sufi shrine, Riz wrote, "Many people think of Islam as austere and somber. But at Sufi shrines you will find disco lighting, rhythmic chanting, and disciples with swami-esque matted dreadlocks. Sufi Islam, often associated with the poet Rumi, is widely practiced in South Asia."

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ RIZ AHMED

"It has an emphasis on mysticism and purity of heart, rather than a fixation with scriptural literalism. It is an open spirituality, borrowing from cultural customs and folklore," he continued. "Local saints are celebrated and mourned at shrines through singing, transcendental spinning, and feeding the poor. Sufi shrines have been bombed by extremists in recent years. This partly due to the spread of Salafi / Wahhabi Islam which aims to strip local ‘superstitions’ and ‘unorthodox practices’ out of the religion."

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ RIZ AHMED

With such a diverse fan following, Riz has taken this opportunity to educate people and create awareness on Islam and and the misconceptions that follow.

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